When guests book a room in advance they are sent a business card, direction sheet and asked if they would like a complimentary Cream Tea on arrival. I’ve found that in addition to a warm welcome and being put at ease instantly, a Cream Tea breaks the ice well and sets the scene for a comfortable and cosy stay………..even if it does ruin the daily calorie count for those watching their diet!! A hot Devon locally sourced scone with home made damson plum jam and lashings of clotted cream does hit the spot for the intrepid traveller and is a real treat for most.

At 1800 I open the bar……….not a counter as such like Faulty Towers but a simple wine bottle or two selected from my reasonably extensive collection stashed in the downstairs loo, a few old glasses and some nibbles……again a complimentary service offered to those with time for a glass gathered round the kitchen island before they head off for dinner……….the system is always welcome, great fun and kicks the evening off to a good start.

If guests aren’t too late back and are up for a dram as a night cap then again I’m happy to oblige…………I appreciate good company especially with a glass of whisky and a convivial atmosphere gathered round the wood burner in the drawing room usually. Politics, religion and sex are perfectly acceptable topics to discuss and to share an opinion at any time is okay in my view, and being neither PC nor fussy there are no exceptions to this openness and encouragement for debate and shared interests. I like nothing more than putting the world right with a like minded kindred spirit…….especially with a glass in hand!!

Ian

Ian Corner

Orchard Barn B&B

The gardens at Orchard Barn when the property was converted some 3 years age were created from 4 distinct areas –

An overgrown field formed the larger rear garden and is now the home for the Croquet Pitch (lawn might be pushing the boundaries a little far – but it certainly has character as a competitive Pitch!!) A granite edged veggie patch produces an abundance of kitchen produce in season together with 2 separate courgette beds and 4 granite troughs scattered around all with flowers in winter (daffs and tulips) and carrots/beetroot in summer, add further stone feature to the garden. Two very old damson plum trees with a beautiful wild red climbing rose rambling between and joining them together shade adjacent and ancient granite Cornish Drip Stone with 4 large granite square slab seats ideal to watch the croquet from whilst supping wine or cider. Cream teas have been served here on request adding a touch of almost pagan ceremony to the occasion!!

The front garden was a concrete farmyard designed for farm tractors and machinery to turn round and cattle to pass en route too and from the milking parlour – this area is now laid to fine lawn with a beautiful stone boundary wall, granite trough in one corner and feature mushroom in another leading up to a cobble edged stone flagged patio in front of the house and then a large cobbled drive way for parking 2 cars immediately outside the front door.

There is a smaller rear garden with a part-forsythia hedge bordering the Mill Leet which runs along the rear boundary of the property and in the old days served as the water race to power the Old Mill next door – this garden is now laid to lawn and has various shrubs and climbing roses designed to produce flowers and cuttings for the house year round. Bird feeders (often frequented by the many squirrels) abound and 2 bee hive looking kitchen compost boxes nestle between one bird table and the arum lily tub adjoining the Cider Barn

The riverside garden running between the River Teign and the drive is again largely grass with more flowering shrubs, several varieties of roses, and mallow which are great for house cutting, and sweet peas climb up the wall in season and tumble over the drive for easy house cutting.

There are many other pieces of hidden garden and granite features dotted around the property – some have been purchased from local farm auctions and transported and positioned throughout in order to return ancient soul to the gardens and add a further sense of age and history to the place.

The garden certainly has a wonderfully peaceful and soft sentiment – the combination and therapeutic magic of running waters from both the main river and the Mill leet add a unique and most pleasurable tranquillity to any stroll round the barns and lawns – guests are welcome to wander with glass in hand and experience this majestic joy for themselves at any time.

Ian

Ian Corner

Orchard Barn Bed and Breakfast